Electrical connector system, especially for electric vehicles

An electrical connector system, the combination comprising:

• a receptacle having a first set of electrical contacts coupled to said receptacle;
• first shutter means, movably coupled to said receptacle, for selectively covering and exposing said first set of contacts;
• a plug having a second set of electrical contacts coupled to said plug and a contact housing coupled to said plug for housing said second set of contacts;
• second shutter means, movably coupled to said contact housing of said plug, for selectively covering and exposing said second set of contacts;
• uncovering means, coupled to said plug and said receptacle, for selectively moving said first and second shutter means to uncover said first and second sets of contacts, respectively, to permit electrical coupling of said first set of contacts with said second set of contacts, upon insertion of said plug into said receptacle, and
• said inlet cavity being substantially unobstructed and sized for receiving said contact housing of said plug therein with substantially no force being applied between said receptacle and said plug, said inlet cavity of said receptacle including a pivot pin, and said plug including hook means for engaging said pin to properly align said second set of contacts with said first set of contacts.

An electrical connector system, the combination further comprising:

• a receptacle having a first set of electrical contacts coupled to said receptacle;
• first shutter means, movably coupled to said receptacle, for selectively covering and exposing said first set of contacts;
• a plug having a second set of electrical contacts coupled to said plug and contact housing means, coupled to said plug, for housing said second set of contacts;
• second shutter means, movably coupled to said contact housing means of said plug, for selectively covering and exposing said second set of contacts;
• uncovering means, coupled to said plug and said receptacle, for selectively moving said first and second shutter means to uncover said first and second sets of contacts, respectively, to permit electrical coupling of said first set of contacts with said second set of contacts, upon insertion of said plug into said receptacle, and
• motive means, coupled to one of said first and second sets of contacts, for moving at least one of said first and second contact means in a direction transverse to the direction of insertion of said plug into said receptacle.

An electrical connector adapted to be electrically coupled to a mating electrical connector, comprising:

• an electrically insulated housing with positioning means for engaging the mating electrical connector to limit inward movement of said insulated housing relative to mating electical connector;
• electrical contact means coupled within said housing;
• shutter means for selectively covering said electrical contact means;
• coupling means, coupled to said shutter means and said housing, for movably coupling said shutter means to said housing;
• and
• a latching member coupled to said insulated housing for engaging said shutter means to prevent said shutter means from being moved to expose said contact means until after complete insertion of said insulated housing with a mating electrical connector so that said positioning means prevents further inward movement of said insulated housing.

An electrical connector system, the combination comprising:

• a receptacle having a first contact housing, a first electrical contact means and an inlet cavity;
• first shutter means, movably coupled to said first contact housing, for selectively covering and exposing said first contact means;
• a plug having a second contact housing adapted to be received in said inlet cavity of said receptacle, and a second electrical contact means for electrically coupling with said first contact means upon insertion of said second contact housing into said inlet cavity;
• second shutter means, movably coupled to said second contact housing, for selectively covering and exposing said second contact means;
• sensing means, coupled to one of said contact housing, for detecting a full insertion position of said second contact housing into said inlet cavity to permit electrical coupling of said first and second contact means while said first and second contact remain stationary in said full insertion position;
• and
• sealing means, coupled to said plug and said receptacle, for sealing said first and second contact means against the ingress of moisture and other contaminants before and after electrical coupling of said first and second contact means,
• one of said first and second contact means being movably coupled for engaging the other of said first and second contact means after said second contact housing reaches said full insertion position such that said inlet cavity engages said second contact housing to prevent further inward movement of said second contact housings relative to said first contact housings during electrical coupling of said first and second contact means.

An electrical connector system, the combination comprising:

• a receptacle having a first contact housing, a first electrical contact means and an inlet cavity;
• first shutter means, movably coupled to said first contact housing, for selectively covering and exposing said first contact means;
• a plug having a second contact housing adapted to be received in said inlet cavity of said receptacle, and a second electrical contact means for electrically coupling with said first contact means upon insertion of said second contact housing into said inlet cavity;
• second shutter means, movably coupled to said second contact housing, for selectively covering and exposing said second contact means;
• and
• sealing means, coupled to said plug and said receptacle, for sealing said first and second contact means against the ingress of moisture and other contaminants before and after electrical coupling of said first and second contact means,
• said sealing means including at least one first sealing member positioned between said first contact housing and said first shutter means, and at least one second sealing member positioned between said second contact housing and said second shutter means,
• said at least one first sealing member being movably coupled to said first contact housing for selectively engaging said first shutter means and a portion of said plug.

An electrical connector system, the combination comprising:

• a first electrical connector having a first contact housing, a set of first contacts coupled to said first housing, and a first shutter movably coupled to said first housing for selectively covering and exposing said first contacts;
• a second electrical connector having a second housing, a set of second contacts coupled to said second contact housing, and a second shutter movably coupled to said second housing for selectively covering and exposing said second contacts, one of said first and second contacts being movably coupled relative to the other while said first and second contact housings remain stationary when coupled together;
• and
• breakaway means, coupled to said first contact housing, for disengaging said first contacts from said second contacts when coupled together and after application of a predetermined separation force between said first and second electrical connectors, said breakaway means including
• coupling means for movably coupling said first contact housing to a support only after application of the predetermined separation force between said first and second electrical connectors, and
• a releasing mechanism for moving said first and second contacts relative to each other to electrically disengage said first and second contacts from each other prior to substantial relative movement between said first and second contact housings.